Slate-splitting machine



June 29 1926.

v. F. LAKE SLATE SPLITTING MACHINE' 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATroRNEY Filed June 30. 1923A l .V. F. LAKE SLATE SPLITTING MACHINE' June 29 1926A.

@Kwam-sheet 2 Filed June, 30. 1923) June 29 1926.

' v. F. LAKE sLATE SPLITTING MACH-INE June 29 1926.

v. -F LAKE SLATE SPLITTING MACHINE Filed June :5o. 1923 5 sheets-shea s,

xNvENToR Cil Patented June 29, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES VINCENT F. LAKE, OF DEMAREST, NEWJ'ERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SLATE VENEER COM- PANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

sLifiTs-SPMTTING MACHINE.

Application filed J'une` 30, 1923. Serial N'o. 648,668.

This invention relates to machines for splitting slate blocks or slabs in the direction of the cleavage planes.

Slaty cleavage is the characteristic of the been done by hand. Because of the varying physical properties of diiierent qualities of slate, and the frequent presence of hard spots, it requires years of practical experience to become a skilled slate splitter. lt has, however, been proposed to split slate mechanically by tools operating under a constant and continuous pressure, but by reason of the peculiarities of slate such procedure results in excessive waste and is impracticable for splitting thin sheets.

The invention has for its object the provision of mechanism for splitting'slate by a succession of impulses. The machine, in its several embodiments, is capable of operating upon slate blocks or slabs of various'sizes, and of splitting slates in quantity toa degree of thinness that, prior to my invention, has been unattainable by mechanical means.

On the accompanying drawings Figure l represents in side elevation a machine for splitting slate, embodying the invention; v Y Y Fig. 2, a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 3 vof Fig. 2;

Fig. t, a transverse section on the line 4 4: of Fig. l;

Fig. 5, a horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. et;

Fig. 6, a longitudinal section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2; of a portion of the hammer mechanism.

Fig. 6, a section on the line 6a 6a of Fig. 6.

Fig. 7, a section, Aon the line 7 7 of Fig. l, through the mechanism for arresting the carriage;

Fig. 8, a plan view of the mechanism for actuating the work-centering jaws;

Fig. 9, a vertical section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10, a plan view of a modied machine;

Fig. ll, a side elevation of the carriage and appurtenant parts; and

Fig. l2, a cross section on the line 12 of Fig. 9.l

In explaining the principle of the machine and the mode of applying that principle, as illustrated in the drawings and described herein, it is to be understood that the drawings are somewhat conventionalized, that Vthe invention is capable of various other embodiments, and that the terminology hereinafter used is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. I

Themachine, in the embodiment shown, comprises a frame l having at one end a horizontal platform 2 for the supporting of the slate blocks or slabs to be split.

` The platform 2 Vis adjustable vertically to accommodate blocks of vdifferent heights, and is preferably composed of sections arranged at either side of the longitudinal center line of the frame. rlhe two halves are spaced apart slightly to leave a passage-way'r 8 for the lower edge of the bladeY 11i, and through which the chips or splinters of slate may fall. By varying the number of sections the length of the vplatform may be altered as required.

For convenience in handling Wide or large blocks I prefer to provide the platform-sections with roller bearings, such as the balls elheld in adjustable sockets 5, as

indicated in Fig. 3.. In Fig. l0, is diagrammatically shown a machine intended to operate upon narrow blocks or slabs. lith such machine'the anti-friction devices may be eliminated, and the passageway 3 is partially covered bysprings 6 fastenedat their inner ends'7 to the opposing edges of the platform-halves. By this arrangement the springs will support slabs ot such thinness that they might otherwise 'tall through the opening 3 While still permitting the blade 14 to advance to the end ot its stroke.

it the plattor'n'i-end et the trame 1 a standard S which is adjustable lengthwise of the trame to accommodate blocks or slabs oit diiterient lengths. Mounted in the standard is an anvilf)y against which an end ot the slate block or slab abuts, during. the splitting operation. l pre'ter to sup port the anvil on a honizontalaxispr pivot so that it Will be seit-conforming to blocks.V Whose` abuttingfends may deviate from the perpendicular.A

fr carriage 11, shovvn apart from the machine ini Fig. 1.1-, is mount-.ed to slide baci; and forth onv the Ways 12 ot the frame. A suitable. mechanism, hereinafter described in detail, is provided.y tor reciprocating the carriage, said mechanism. operating. to advance the carriage by the torce ot gravity acting ,on the Weights 34v and to return it with a positive motion through the action ot the eranl; 39 on theconnected levers 43 and 45. Mounted on the carriagev are the halllellrhousine 13, the spitting-*L091 14, and the tool supporting-arms 15. i

The tool. 14 may be ot'` any suitable form ory construction. Preferably, though not necessarily, I employ a broad tapered blade,

`having av divided flexible splittingfedge, of

the generalcharacterdisclosed in vmy Patent No. 1,229,622 of June 12, 1917. rIlhe toolhas a Shank 16 Carrying e. hardened roller 1.7, and itis mounted` to slidelengthwise in the support o rhousing- 13, Asprin-g 18 pressing against thewasher 19, and theabutment20, respective-ily, serives to provide a yielding pressure 0.11 the tool and, te.. hold itin pr@-Y jected position out of. Contact with thehamg mer mechanism, except, when in splitting, the4` tool is` unden resistance. The abutment 2O iscarried 'on studs21 extending from the housing 13, and the tension of the spring maybevvaried as required by means of the regulating nuts 22.`

The machine is provided With a hammerl mechanism Which Gomes into play to urge the tool by a series ot impacts or blows when, in splitting, its advance is impeded. Any suitable type or kind ot automatic hammer or device, Vadapted tol apply a rapid succession ot impulses on. the tool, may be em,- ployed. One form of device which, may be conveniently used for this pulposecomprises a rotary hammer having a broad-edged disk 23, rotating on a horizontal axis in the housing 13, and carrying a series of small hard. roilersf24v fitted into sockets in its cir; cumterenceand; projecting. slightly beyond its periphery. The. dish is driven to rotate at high speed by suitableconneetions 25 with a motor, indicated at 26; the connections be.- ing such. asto producecontinuous rotation ot the dislr While the device as a Whole moves to and fro with the reciprocating motion ot the carriage 11.

When, in splitting, advance oi the tool 14 is retarded or impeded, as in making the initial penetration or in encountering a hard spot in the slate, the hammer Will move tor- Wardrelatively to the tool, thereby bringing the rollers24- ofthe hammer into position to successiyely strike the roller 17 at the end of the tool-shank 1G and thus to apply a rapid successionot impulses to the tool until the resistance to its advance is overcome. The intensity ottheimpacts onv thetool will` depend upon the extent ot the lapoi the driving and driven parts.

By limiting the extent-ot; the sliding movement Ot the tool in its support the amount ot lap between the rollers 17 and 24, and consequently the intensity ot the blows on the tool, may be regulated as desired. A suitable means for this purpose comprises the forked slide 27 Working onr guides 28 and passing through opposed slots or groovest) in the. sidesl otl the tool-shank 16, the front edgelot the slide and slot being similarly inclined, asseen in` F ig. 6. The slide is provided with a threaded stem 31 by Which 'it may be moved up or down, a gauge 32, and a lock-nut 33. ln Figs, 6 and 6a the shank 16 is shown in theposition that it would occupy if the tool were meeting opposition in its advance. -t' no resistance Were present the in ner edge ofT the groovevSO wouldl be pressed againstthe.u slide 27 by action of the spring 18. Ity should be noted that by raising the slide 27 to its full extent, so as to be entirely free of, the slot 30, thetool 14 may bereadily removedfrom the housing 13 for the purposes of repair, replacement or sharpening. TheK carriage reciprocating mechanism, hereinbetore b rieliy mentioned, includes a number ot Weights 34 supported on a rest 35 Which is suspended on cords or chains 36 passing over the pulleysl 37 and iiXed tol anchorages. onthe carriage 11. The number ot Weights used may b e varied at will according to the character of slate to be split, As the weights tall the carriage advances causing the tool1 to penetrate and split the slate. This forward motion is governet, and the return motion caused, by means, shown in `iigs. 14 and 8, comprising the crank arm 89 iixedI to the rotating shaft 40 and carrying an adjustable block 41 provided l with a project-ing roller-pin 42. The rollerpin bears against theinner edge ot the lever 43 tulcrumed in the block 44 near the base ot the trame. A second lever, 45, also tulcrumed in said block, has its upper end portion slidably engaged in the swinging block 4G attached to the front ot thehousingl, and it carriesa segment 47 formed with a series otholes, or other means, tor receiving a bolt 48 whereby said lever may be connected to the companion lever 4:3 and adjusted in variable angular relation thereto so as to compensate for shortening of Athe tool through wear or grinding. Furthermore, by adjusting the block Lil the effective radius of the crank arm 39 may be varied as desired to change the extent of movement of the car riage and, consequently, the length of the stroke of the blade. It is to be noted, also, that by changing the contour of the edge of the lever 4:3 that contacts with the pin 42 the velocity of the reciprocating motion of the carriage may be varied. In each cycle, as the carriage advances it swings the connected levers t3-45 forward causing them to Vfollow the crank pin 4t2 through half a revolution, thereby governing said carriagemotion; during the other half revolution of the crank said levers are pushed back, thus returning` the carriage to its initial position.

As it usually requires considerably more pressure on the tool to start the cleft than to continue splitting, means are preferably provided to decrease the pressure immediately after the split has begun. 1t is advisable that this should be done without shock. For these purposes l prefer to employ a pressure regulation mechanism, best'seen in Fig. et, comprising a pair of threaded rods i9 extending upward from the top weight 34 through openings in the machine-frame and carrying adjustable stops for limiting` their downward movement'.A rl`he stops each consist of a sleeve formed at its upper end with a nut 5l for convenience in turning, and a lock-nut 52 to hold it in adj usted position. The sleeve serves to protect the threads of the rod as it passes through the frame. Around the sleeve is a spring 523 and a washer 54. As the weights fall, the top weight will be gradually restrained by impingement of the stop 5l against the washer oil-the spring 53 serving to relieve the shock-thus decreasing the splittingpressure on the tool 14. On the return movement the top weight is taken up without shock. This is accomplished by provision of the springs resting in openings in the remaining weights on the weight-rest 35 and extending beyond said weights. The top weight has hollow plugs 56 threaded therein against which the springs are compressed in receiving Said weight. The weights 84 with their rest 85 slide on the stationary guide rods 57.

it frequently happens that the slate has some change in structure which will prevent its splitting thus endangering the edge if the tool. This is guarded against in my machine by providing a feed-motion check operable to arrestadvancc of the tool at any point. Supported in a bracket 58, depending from the carriage il, is a piston 59 that works in a cylinder 60 containing a iiuid, and secured to the machine-frame The cylinder is connected by an out-flow pipe 6l and an in-low pipe G3 with a reservoir 64, having a non-airtight cover. The pipe line 63 conta-ins a suitable check-valve 65 which permits the fluid to flow only from the reservoir to the cylinder. Escape of the `fluid from the cylinder is controlled at will by the valve 66 which, in Fig. 7, is shown in its open position. The valve has an elongated stem 67 carrying a 'crank 68 which is connected, through a link 69, with a conveniently located treadle 70. Upon closing the valve 66 escape of the fluid is prevented and the piston will be locked until it is pulled out by the return movement of the carriage.

lli/leans are provided for holding the piece of slate to be split `and centering it with respect to the splitting-edge of the tool il. These means include automatically operating parallel clamps designed to grasp the slate at its ends; the clamps being self-adjusting, within limits, to slates of dii'erent thicknesses. It has been found when splitting thin slabs that, because ofk the taper of the splitting-tool and the flexibility of thin slate, the split parts will flare out. To avoid `breakage from this cause, I provide a quick releasing device timed to open the clamps at the entering end upon entrance of the tool. These instrumentalities, shown somewhat in detail in Figs. 5, 8 and 9, pref4 erably comprise a cam 7l fixed to the rotating shaft 40, and a second cam 72, also fixed to said shaft. The cam 7l, which controls the closing movement of both the front andrear clamps, as well as the opening movement of the rear ones, is set at a slight angle' ahead of the cam 72, controlling the quick release of the front clamps. rlhe closing movement is caused by a falling weight 725 carried on the long arm of the bell crank 7 el, the short arm of which carries the cam-foln lower 75. rock-shaft 76 which is connected by the crank 77, the link 7 8, and the crank 78 with the rock-shaft 80. The latter is connected by mitre gears 8l with the shaft- 82, which shaft is adjustable lengthwise lo permit of adjust-nient of the standard 8 for the pur pose hereinbefore mentioned. Through these connections, falling of the weight 78 will cause the shaft 82 to turn clockwise, which motion transmitted through the mitre gears 83, the shaft 84, and the oppo- Vsitely act-ing screw-gear pairs 85, will close the clamps at the rear end of the slate. The clamps at the front or tool-entering end of the slate are closed by means of a oneway clutch 86 carrying a weight 87 which causes the clutch to follow the clockwise motion of the shaft 82 and, consequently, to turn the short shaft 88 in the same direction; the weight 87 being lighter than the The bell-crank is fixed to the I l il() tei-red to, compris ,Y tog-ether with the cani "2 the. '.veieht- 92, he bell-criink J3, the canii'o tie crank tli lie trank 98. l." ien,4 as the cam T2 rotates, the Weight 3ernii.ted to .tall it will transmit rpiivl-z action on the crank 98 thereby turne shaft coniraafiockvrise and clamps to gin. ot the quick release ni d with ielati ol'ioii oi" clamps will open as slate. llt is evident that during the closing; motion ot the trent elan'ips the crank 05 must swing forward. To permit such Jree movement ot the crank, the link i ted, 99, as shown in Fig.

lll/bile it is important that the thinner pieces oi slate be split tirough the middle, 1 have found by experience that in blocking,` out thicker pieces it is not always necessary to split in the center, as in such cases less than halt may be taken. o'ti' Without the split running to one side. For this reason, the machine is provided with a deice whereby the 'clamp closing, and the quick release, movements may be rendered inoperative when so desired. rlhis device, as seen in Fig. S, comprises a detent 100, provided with a handle 101, and adapted to be thrown into engagement with the gear 83 the rear end ot' the shaft 82. By engagenient ot the detent with said gear when both Weights 73 and 92 are in raised position, in which position both the front and rear sets ot clamps are ivide open) falling oi the Weights, with the consequent actuation of said movements, may be prevented.

The front and rear clamps are substantially similar in construction, which constructon may be readily'understood by reference to Fig'. 9, wherein is shown the right hand member ot the front clamp. Each clamp member comprises a shaft 102 which is turned by one of the screw-gear pairs 91, or 85, as the case may be. rlhe sha-tts oi the lrontclamp are mounted in the housing 10?), while those oi' the rear clamp are supported in the standard 8. Surrounding each shaft 102 is a sleeve 101 connected thereto by a pin 105 Working' in diametrically opposed radial slots 106 (Fig. 12) ojt the sleeve. rorsion springs 101", each fined one end to a frame aartand at the other end to a collar 108 keyed to the sleeve cause the sleeve to follow the turning movement of the shaft but permit a certain amount of loose mo` tion between said parts. Clamp-jaws 109 lower We, the rock-shatt A .connecting link 97, and t are mounted on thesleeve toisiving, withA the,

turningl movement of the. sha t through, an.

arcuate pathy ot apprenimately 9,0 deg es` and are so set that, when* the clamp is fully closed, the opposedjaws the companion clamp-meinbers iill contact with eaeh other directly inlinev with the. edge of. the split,-

-blade 111.. The loose. motion.I between,

the sharlft andsleeve permits the clamp-jaws tocome to rest in intermediate positions so. to, slateS.

torni. l 1 i'efer.,hoivever, toemploy divided 4, that is, eachA )auf consi ting tivo .ins f roiiiiectedl to swing together but to permit ot slight nelative angularinovenient. it' single piece jaws were used, should either awl or a clamp-pair contact with aisligi-livt pi'oyeetion on, or indentation in, a 'tace oft', the slate block or slab, it bengiinders ood the Jaces votv the` slate, are 1so'iiietlimefs i 'ly uneven, then the slate ivoiildfnotbe Veirered properlv with relation tothe 'split-Y ting-edge of the, tool. By providing adilfd aiv construction liabilityof 'error from cause ishalved, and, thus, made negli-v Tlie tvvoI part-spot eaclli, ja-,ivv 109 .tit oseiy. on the sleeve 10e and are connected getlier for relative angular movement byfa k 111 centrally pivot-ed. M112 in liigfll'4 eyed to turn with the sleeve. i

A guide is preferably provided to prevent the edge of the tool 14 troni'bending and to maintain its split in alinement- The guide comprises tivo plates 114, slidingl on the housing` '103, and betiveen which the tool passes.l rQhe plates are formed with open-I ings through ivhicli tliejaivs 109 project and are connected to move in parallelisinby the linkage 115, which includes the adjusting turnbuckle 116. Springs 117, acting through the linka-ge, press the opposed edges orV the plates against the sides ot the blade. tapering ioim or" the tool causes the plates to separate as` the toolV advances, and the springs 117 ca use them to come together during` the return motion, thus, guiding the blade in its path.

Application or" power tothe machine is controlled by the fast and` loose, pulleys 118. As some qualities of slate are more diilieult to split thanv others, or because some operators may Work slower than others, it is advisable to provide suitable means as, for example, the'gear box 119 having four changes ot speed tor changing the rate or" motion of the moving arts. Poiyer is transmitted through the chain and sprockets 120 from the change-speed gears (not shown) to the rotating shaft 410.

Vlhile in certain cases the several mecho on anisms, devices and instrumentalities herein set forth, or their equivalents, may be combined in a single machine operating as described, in other instances certain of said means, with their corresponding 'functions may be eliminated. F or example, the clamps and their actuating means, may be omitted from a machine intended to work only upon larger blocks of slate.

What I claim is:

l. A slate-splitting machine comprising a frame, a carriage, means for reciprocating the carriage, a splitting-tool supported on the carriage, means mounted on the carriage for applying a rapid succession of impulses to the tool when splitting, a support for the slate, clamps for engaging the slate at its ends and centering it with respect to the path of the splitting tool, and means for closing the clamps at both ends simultaneously and opening the clamps at the front end in advance of t-hose at the rear end.

2. A slate-splitting machine comprising a frame, a support for the slate, a carriage, a gravity feed for advancing the carriage towards the slate, mechanism for controlling the advancing movement and returning the carriage with a positive motion, a splitting-tool supported on the carriage, and means mounted on the carriage for applying a rapid succession of impulses to the tool when splitting.

3. A slate-splitting machine comprising a frame, a support for the slate, a carriage, a gravity feed for advancing the carriage toward the slate, a check for arresting advance at any point, mechanism for controlling the advancing movement and returning the carriage with a posit-ive motion, a splitting-tool supported on the carriage, and means mounted on the carriage for applying a rapid succession of impulses to the tool when spli ting. Y i; 'all 1l. In a slate-splitting machine, a reciprocating splitting-blade, a divided slate-supporting table comprising sections spaced apart to permit of passage of the blade therebetween, and resilient means closing the opening to provide support.

5. In a slate-splitting machine, a carriage supporting a splitting-tool, means for advancing the carriage by gravity comprising weights dependently connected with the carriage, and means for controlling said forward movement and for returning the carriage with a positive motion comprising a rotary crank contacting with a pivoted lever slidably connected with the carriage.

6, In a slate-splitting machine, a carriage supporting a splitting-tool, means for advancing the carriage by gravity comprising superposed Weights resting on a support dependently connected with the carriage, and a spring-stop carried by the uppermost weight and operative to arrest descent .0f

said weight at a predetermined point with a cushiony action.A

'4'. In a slate-splitting machine, a carriage upporting a. splitting-tool, mechanism for inparting reciprocating motion to the carand means for arresting the carriage any point in its advance comprising a cylinder containing a fluid, a piston secured to the carriage and w rlring in the cylinder, and a valve for controlling escape of the Huid from the cylinder.

8. In a slate-splitting machine, a reciproeating splitting-blade, clamps for engaging the sla-te at its ends and cente 1ing it with respect to the path of the blade, means for closing the clamps at both ends simultaneously, and means for opening the front clamps as the blade penetrates the slate.

9. In a slate-splitting machine, means for holding and centering a piece of slate, comprising a set of clamps for engaging the rear end of the slate, a cam and follower controlling the movement of said clamps, a second set of clamps for engaging the front end of the slate, a one-way coupling connecting both clamp-sets for simultaneous closing movement, and a second cam and follower controlling the opening movement of the second set of clamps and causing said clamps to open in advance of the opening of the rst mentioned clamps.

l0. In a slate-splitting machine, means for holding and centering a piece of slate, comprising a set of clamps for engaging the rearY end of the slate, a weighted lever connected with said clamps for closing the same upon falling of the weight, a cam controlling the movements of the weighted lever, a second set of clamps for engaging the front end of the slate, a weighted one-way clutch connecting both clamp sets for simultaneous closing movement, a second weighted lever connected with the last mentioned set of clamps for opening' the same and disconnecting the clutch upon falling of said weight, a cam controlling the movements of said second weighted lever so as to open the second set of clamps in advance of the opening of the first mentioned set, the weights carried on the levers being each heavier than the weight carried by the clutch.

ll. In a slate-splitting machine, a clamp member comprising an oscillating shaft, a sleeve surrounding the shaft, a clamp-jaw fixed to the sleeve, a loose-motion driving connection between the shaft and sleeve, and' a spring urging the sleeve to follow the shaft inthe direction of the closing movement of the jaw.

l2. In a slate-splitting machine, a clamp consisting of a pair of opposed members each comprising an oscillatingshaft, a sleeve surrounding the shaft, a clamp-jaw fixed to the sleeve, a loose-motion driving connection between the ,statt Sleeve and a Stories-f fsing' 'the sleeve "to follOW vche shaft in the Clreeton of Jche closing movement f the jaw, the'sleeves of the two members hehggearecl together to turn uniformly in opposite cl- 5 l'ec'tons.

13. In a slate-splitting machine, a clamp- W comprising two 'ngers Connected to move together in parallel plaines and to have lil. The Combination of a Splitting-tool having a flexible splitting-edge, and an autemavte hammer' for applying a. series of mpaecs en the toe-l when spltng.

VINCENT F. LAKE. 

